The Meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins – Some “Christians” Will Miss The Rapture

The parable of the Ten Virgins is a very important end times prophecy.

The Book of Matthew chapters 24 and 25 are an extensive prophetic teaching on the end times by Jesus Christ. The parable of the ten virgins is a direct reference to the Rapture of the Church – the removal of all born again Christians, dead and alive from the Earth, into the clouds to meet the Lord Jesus and be taken to Heaven until the Second Coming and Armageddon. In this parable Jesus teaches an important and startling lesson: some Christians will miss the Rapture and be left behind to experience God’s wrath unleashed on Earth during the end times Day of The Lord.

The Parable

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. – Matthew 25:1-13.

As explained in our article on the Red Moon Rapture, one of the purposes of the Rapture is for the spiritual wedding and union of Jesus Christ with the Church, referred to as “the Bride of Christ” in scripture. Jesus finishes describing the Rapture in Matthew 24 and continues in chapter 25 with a parable about the Rapture. This is why verse 1 of chapter 25 begins with the word “Then.” It is a continuation of the thought from the end of Chapter 24, which is the Rapture (this is critical to understanding the proper context of the parable). In Chapter 25 Jesus is addressing two factions within the church – those who are true, faithful believers, and those who call themselves Christians but are not and will be left behind at the Rapture.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Jesus divides the ten virgins into 2 groups: the wise – who represent faithful, born again Christians, and the foolish, who are members of the Apostate Christian church that claims the name of Christ but do not believe or in some cases, even understand the Biblical Gospel. The imagery of virgins and the bridegroom is a clear reference to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in which Jesus Christ, the bridegroom will spiritually join with His bride, the Church (this is explained in detail in our article on the Red Moon Rapture).

The Gospel of Matthew Chapters 24 and 25 are a series of prophecies.

Jesus referred to Himself as the bridegroom earlier in Matthew:

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. – Matthew 9:14-15.

John The Baptist confirmed the same of Jesus in the book of John:

Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. – John 3:28-29.

The Church Is The Bride of Christ. The Apostle Paul gives this description:

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. — 2 Corinthians 11:2.

With this Scriptural background, it can be clear that the virgins awaiting the groom are symbolic of the Church. And the groom is Jesus Christ.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

The midnight cry of the groomsmen that the groom has arrived is an element of the traditional Hebrew wedding in which the groom, after giving a dowry, goes to his father’s home to prepare a bridal chamber for his bride. Jesus made reference to this exact tradition in John 14:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. – John 14:1-3.

Jesus, who at present resides in Heaven, has prepared a place for His bride, the Church. And at the Rapture, Jesus will come to the clouds and receive the raptured church, to return to Heaven and the Bridal chamber, where the church will be kept safe during the Day of The Lord (also known in Scripture as the Great Tribulation), which starts at the opening of the 6th Seal of Revelation Chapter 6.

Thus getting back to the parable, the groom returns at an hour and day his father selects. And the bride does not know when this time will be and thus has to remain prepared at any hour for the bridegroom’s arrival. This arrival is signaled by a shout at which time the bridegroom arrives and “snatches” the bride to return to the Bridal chamber in his father’s house (the astute Bible student will already notice the numerous Biblical references in this tradition). In the parable, the bridegroom has arrived but only 5 of the virgins are prepared for his arrival. The others, who are caught off guard and unprepared, try to ask the wise virgins for their oil.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

This passage incorporates many of the same themes in the letters to the 7 churches in Asia in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. In these letters, Jesus gives praise and reprimands but gives several warnings that those Christians who do not repent and believe will miss the rapture and be left behind for the judgments of the wrath of God during the Day of The Lord. But why do some Christians make the Rapture and some are left behind? What is the difference that makes one wise or foolish? We will start by looking at the church of Laodicea:

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. – Revelation 3:14-19.

This church, which received no praise from Jesus, has one defining characteristic – they think they are Christians, but in fact they are not. Like the foolish virgins, this church is urged to “buy” something to help their bad situation. In the case of the five virgins they are told to buy oil, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit that is given to all born again Christians at the moment they are believers. The Laodicean church is told to buy “gold” from Jesus, representing eternal riches over worldly, temporal wealth. And the “white garments” are worn by the raptured church in Heaven, as seen in Revelation chapter 7 (this is discussed in detail in our article on the timing of the Rapture). In both cases these groups of pseudo-Christians do not have what is necessary to be a part of the true church – a saving faith in the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. The idea of “buying” the Spirit is of course metaphorical language that was also used in the Old Testament:

“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” – Proverbs 23:23.

The Word of Truth is the Gospel, from the God of Truth, proclaiming Jesus, who is The Truth (John 14:6), which people are led to by the Spirit of Truth. Thus the idea is to place a high value on the Gospel over worldly desires, riches and pursuits. And this is where the foolish virgins have erred.

For both groups of false Christians, a door – a major symbol in Rapture prophecy in Scripture, is present. The five virgin are locked out of a door. The Laodicean church are told that Jesus is knocking on their door waiting to be invited in. In either case, they are on the wrong side of the door.

Contrast this with the church of Philadelphia, who are praised for their faith by Jesus:

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.- Revelation 3:9-10.

These faithful Christians are told that the door is open to them and “no man can shut it,”indicating that they will escape the end times judgments of God’s wrath at the Day of The Lord. This is confirmed in the very next verse when Jesus says: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”This is a reference to the wrath of God being poured out on the entire world during the Day of The Lord. This church will not experience this because they will be raptured. Thus the symbolism of the door being shut indicates that the foolish virgins will be left behind with the rest of the unbelieving world.

“I Know You Not”

The foolish virgins are too late for the wedding.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. – Matthew 25:11-12.

The foolish virgins, who were not present when the bridegroom arrived (they were out trying to buy oil), come to the door and pleaded with the groom to let them in. But they are told by Jesus “Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” This is a parallel response to another teaching Jesus gives about false Christians:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. – The Lord Jesus Christ, speaking in Matthew 7:21-23.

In this chilling passage, Jesus again references a group of people who believe they are Christians, but they in actuality are not. Notice that like the foolish virgins they address Jesus as “Lord, Lord.” This group then proceeds to proclaim their works as the basis for their salvation, telling Jesus of the miracles and other “great things” they did in His name (showing they do not understand the Gospel – as Christians are saved by faith in Christ, not their own works and good deeds). Jesus’ reply to their plea is very similar in both instances – He does not know them. In other words, they are not a part of the true Christian church. This passage highlights the important point, that in the body of Christianity, there are many who profess and appear to be Christian but in reality Jesus Christ does not know them. They are not born again and they will be left behind at the Rapture. In the book of Matthew Jesus provided insight into why He does not know some of those who call Him “Lord, Lord”:

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33.

Christians should ask themselves: do you proclaim Jesus Christ to others? Do the people around you know you are a Christian? Do you share the Gospel and the open belief that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only way to heaven? Are you a part of a Bible-believing church where you are readily identified as believer? Bible commentator Jonathan Gill said of this passage:

This, I say, may be included in the sense of these words; but what they chiefly relate to, is a confession of Christ by his ministers [all Christians], in the public preaching of the Gospel; who ought openly, and boldly, to acknowledge, and declare, that Christ is truly and properly God, the eternal Son of God, the only mediator between God and men, the Saviour and Redeemer of lost sinners; through whose blood alone is the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of grace; by whose righteousness only men can be justified before God; and by whose sacrifice and satisfaction sin is only expiated; that he died for, and in the room and stead of his people, rose again for their justification, ascended to heaven in their name, is set down at the right hand of God, and ever lives to make intercession for them, and will come again, and judge both quick and dead: such a free and open confession of Christ ought to be made by all his [Christians] before men, and in spite of all the rage and opposition of earth and hell; and such shall not fail of being taken notice of, and requited by Christ; (source).

Outer Darkness

Though the door is shut on the foolish virgins, they still have time to make a plea to Jesus. And Jesus responds back by saying He does not know them. Thus the punishment of the foolish virgins is not bring destroyed in hell, otherwise they would no longer have a chance to make their case. Similarly the false Christians in Matthew 7, are also given a chance to make a plea to Jesus. And the church of Laodicea, for all their faults, are told that if they repent from their wicked ways, they will be rewarded. This underscores that the punishment for those who are pseudo-Christians who are alive at the start of the end times is that they will miss the Rapture and suffer through the Day of The Lord and the reign of the Antichrist that occur after the Rapture. Although it is not mentioned in the parable of the Ten Virgins, in other parables, Jesus describes being left behind at the Rapture as being cast into “outer darkness.” Here are several examples:

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 25:29-30.

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come… And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. — Matthew 22:1-13. Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. – Luke 13:24-28.

Many of the same themes are in this passage: the door being shut, wedding garments, pseudo-believers missing the door before it closes and knocking as they plead to be let in, tie in with Rapture symbolism. As well as Jesus again telling a group of people He does not know them. And like those cast into outer darkness in the Matthew 25 passage above, there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This serves as another indicator that “outer darkness” is not hell or the lake of fire, but is rather being left in the world during the time of the Day of The Lord/Great Tribulation. Looking to the Old Testament descriptions of the Day of The Lord, Jesus’ use of the phrase “outer darkness” becomes even more compelling:

Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. – Amos 5:18.

The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,- Zephaniah 1:14-15.

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. – Joel 2:1-2. [B&E: Note that Jesus quotes this passage in Matthew 24 describing the Day of The Lord as being a time of tribulation “such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”] Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? — Amos 5:20.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. – 1 Thessalonians 5:2-5.

The language consistency of the Bible is remarkable. In passage after passage, the judgments of the Day of The Lord are described as “darkness.” In the New Testament the Apostle Paul in the passage directly above incorporates it by drawing a contrast between born again Christians who will escape the Day of The Lord being in light and those unbelievers who will suffer the wrath of God at the Day of The Lord, being overtaken by “darkness.”Do Not Miss The Wedding

Seek God while there is still time.

As explained in our article, the Red Moon Rapture, one of the main purposes of the Rapture is for the marital ceremony of Jesus Christ, the bridegroom and His Bride, the Church, which will start in Heaven and culminate at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb on Earth at the start of the Millennial Kingdom. Jesus uses Old Testament Hebrew idioms to make this clear in Matthew 24 and continues explaining the Rapture with the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Many commentaries and articles say this parable has nothing to do with the Rapture, but when the Biblical context is fully understood it is clear that it is indeed a very somber and chilling warning against those who believe they are Christians but are not, and will miss the Rapture. It is critical for Christian today to make sure they believe the true Gospel. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ (the Jesus Christ that is preached in the Bible – not “another Jesus” of a pastor’s invention), and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, that one’s sins can be forgiven. Jesus made it clear that many people are in churches today who He does not know. With numerous heresies being preached, churches changing God’s Word to suit their tastes and political leanings, pastors focusing more on worldly entertainment than the Bible and a host of money-centered, “me-focused”, prosperity doctrines running rampant, the Church is indeed raising a generation of people who call Jesus “Lord, Lord” but do not know Him through Scripture. Do not be deceived. Study the Bible in a good version. Understand that everything in Christianity is centered on Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross achieves everything before God for a Christian. There is no salvation in any other name, including your own. It is maintaining this true faith in Jesus, who died for all sins (including those acts that society today no longer believes are sin) that leads to salvation. Be mindful of the praise Jesus gave to the Church of Philadelphia, who will never have the door to Heaven closed to them:

for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name…. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” – Revelation 3:8-10.

The word of Christ’s patience is The Gospel. It is the testament of God’s love and patience with humanity. It declares the patience of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, who endured torture, beatings, humiliation, false accusations and death of the cross, to save humanity from its sin. That same Jesus Christ is alive and now sits at the Right Hand of The Father who will make Jesus’ enemies His footstool at which point Jesus will return after patiently waiting for the coming of His kingdom on Earth. The same Gospel that all of the disciples were persecuted and murdered for (save for John so he could write the book of Revelation). The same Gospel many Christians throughout the years have been martyred for. Do not compromise the Gospel. Believe it. And live it. All blessings Christians receive are through the Gospel. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ’s Gospel is not this fallen, cursed world, but the future Millennial Kingdom where He ruled in righteousness and His believers should set their hearts on that world, not this one.

All the “prosperity” in this world and the next are through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. He has earned it, which is why it only takes “a little strength” to receive eternal rewards. Proclaim the name of Jesus Christ to the world and make sure Jesus knows you and you too can be kept safe from the coming hour of temptation.

For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. – Isaiah 62:5.

Reader Interactions

Comments

Actually all Christians will go in the rapture. This parable is given to Israel not the Church. This is why there are so many interpretations of end time events because people confuse Israel and the church. If you read the parable very closely you have to ask the question…Where is the bride? The bride is never mentioned in this parable.

Thanks very much for your comment. I know that this interpretation of this parable is not a common one. So I am sure there will be disagreement. I most definitely see The Church and Israel (geographic and national Israel) as two distinct groups in the entire Bible, not just the end times. But I do not see Israel in this parable. I suppose my question to you is: Where is Israel referred to as “the bride of Christ” in Scripture? Or what other passages are you basing your interpretation on? Thanks and God bless you abundantly.

Both B&E and Peter bring out some good points. It was always my understanding that the New Testament church was indeed the bride of Christ and that Israel was the unfaithful “wife” that God “put away” until the end of the church age (Daniel’s “time of the Gentiles). After the rapture of the church “bride of Christ”, then God will set about restoring His relationship with His chosen people, the Israeli(te)s, during the Great Tribulation (time of Jacob’s trouble) and will have completed this goal at the dawning of Christ’s millineal reign here on earth from the Israeli capitol city, Jerusalem. The OT minor prophet book of Hosea represents a type of this dynamic God/Israel relationship. At least that’s MY understanding of it 🙂 I’m not completely sure how the parable of the Ten Virgins fits into this narrative, but B&E does make some pretty compelling points in support of his view of it. Interesting stuff for sure.

Just discovered your page this morning and figured I would reply on this post. Its a long shot as to whether you will see itor not as it was posted way back in 2013.

I wrote these two teachings a couple years ago and will drop them here for your perusal. I agree with Peter that the Parable of the 10 Virgins actually applies to Israel at the Second Coming and that Israel is also the ‘Bride’. The Church is the Body of Christ.

Hey B&E , Yea this interpretation I’ve heard many times. The ten virgins is how people support their view of the partial rapture not the pre-trib rapture. The true pre-trib rapture ALL Christians go in the rapture. The partial rapture only the Christians who are “ready” will go and the rest will be left to endure the Tribulation. Like I mentioned earlier though the bride is never mentioned in this parable because the bride is already gone. This parable is addressed to Israel instead of the church.

Simply watch the context in Matthew. Matthew 24 is addressed to Israel as well followed by chapter 25. The parable before the virgins about the budding of the fig tree is talking about the modern day re-birth of national Israel.

Hey B & E one more thing I forgot to say. I mentioned Matthew 24 was addressed to Israel. Basically here is how it works. Christ’s farewell address to Israel was the Olivet Discourse and Christ farewell address to the church was the Upper Room Discourse which is recorded in John 13-17.

I am not familiar with a partial rapture. I certainly believe all Christians will be Raptured. It’s just that Scripture makes it clear that there are certain people who believe they are born again and are in fact not. That is the distinction the article is making.

The bridegroom never leaves the bride once the rapture happens (John 14 Jesus says this quite clearly). So I don’t follow your interpretation of the parable being a situation that takes place after the Rapture. Where on the other hand many elements of the rapture (the shout, the bridegroom arriving in the middle of the night unexpectedly, the door being shut, etc.) are indeed present.

As for Matthew 24 only addressing Israel, I do not follow that either. What Scriptures are you basing these ideas on? I’m really not sure of the verses you are basing your interpretation on. Thanks again for your comments. God bless.

Yea for sure I will try to explain it better. Basically you have to look at context here and who exactly Jesus is speaking to. What he says and what he’s describing will tell us who he’s directing his words to.

When you look at Matthew 24 verse 2 he’s describing the destruction of the temple that would come in AD 70. Verse 15 Jesus starts talking about the abomination of desolation from the book of Daniel that will come during the Tribulation. And then of course he goes into the parable of the fig tree, a parable about the modern rebirth of Israel that would come to pass in 1948.

All of these things Jesus named are events that occurred or would occur to national Israel not the church. This is how we know Jesus is addressing Israel. This is indeed the fact for Matthew 25 and the ten virgins as Jesus’s audience has not changed.

Also when you look at verse 14 and “the Gospel of the Kingdom” this is what Israel will be preaching during the Tribulation.

As far as people thinking they are Christians and they’re not in this life. That’s probably true.

While certain parts of Matthew 24 due address the nation of Israel directly (The temple’s destruction and the abomination of desolation), all of Jesus’ words are for the Church. Many Christians were saved from the Roman attack on Jerusalem in 70 AD because of Jesus’ similar warning in Luke 21. Additionally, Jesus describes events during the Day of The Lord, but there will be many new Christians during this time and these verses will be prophetic truth for them.

Jesus also describes the first 4 seals of Revelation 6. It is my belief that these seals have already been opened and the church is experiencing them at present. I assume you think the first seal has not been opened?

Finally, when you say parable of the fig tree is about the “Rebirth of Israel that would come to pass in 1948”, what do you base that on? I know I keep repeating this question, but I am trying to understand what other Scriptures are you using to interpret Matthew 24? I have heard this idea about the fig tree before but I cannot find the Scriptural basis for this interpretation.

Hi All, Again, I have to agree with Peter. This is definitely a Second Coming event and not the Rapture. It is about the Wedding Feast of the Lord to which all saints…Raptured, Old Testament, and Tribulation believers will share in the joyous Banquet. The door to the banquet hall will be closed to all others. Blessed be to all who study God’s word, even though we might disagree on interpretations now and then. In His service, Tom

Because of this adultery, a separation took place between God and Israel in the days of Isaiah. In Isaiah 50:1 God spoke to the prophet stating that God had not yet divorced His Wife.

The Jewish prophets did not leave things hopeless. They spoke of a coming day when Israel will again become the restored Wife of Jehovah. This will require a brand-new marriage contract, which is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34. What is often known as the new covenant is in many respects a new marriage contract that God will make with both the houses of Israel and Judah. This new covenant of marriage will be necessary because the old marriage covenant was broken. This remarriage contract is also described in Ezekiel 16:60-63. According to Ezekiel, God will enter into an everlasting covenant with Israel in the future.

“Because of this adultery, a separation took place between God and Israel in the days of Isaiah. In Isaiah 50:1 God spoke to the prophet stating that God had not yet divorced His Wife.

The Jewish prophets did not leave things hopeless. They spoke of a coming day when Israel will again become the restored Wife of Jehovah. This will require a brand-new marriage contract, which is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34. What is often known as the new covenant is in many respects a new marriage contract that God will make with both the houses of Israel and Judah. This new covenant of marriage will be necessary because the old marriage covenant was broken. This remarriage contract is also described in Ezekiel 16:60-63. According to Ezekiel, God will enter into an everlasting covenant with Israel in the future.”

Exactly. Excellent use and understanding of Scripture. God bless you abundantly. -B&E

Peter, you are absolutely right. First of all, these are bridesmaids, not the bride. The Bride is not even mentioned. These bridesmaids refer to the tribulations saints, both Jews and Gentiles. Since the Holy Spirit has removed Himself and the period of Grace no longer applies, those saved after the Rapture must “Work” to keep their Salvation. If you don’t believe me, go to gracethrufaith.com. Jack Kelly, who is a truly inspired Bible teacher and scholar. Kelly has a wonderful article on this very parable and the other “Kingdom” parables as well

Many are called, few are chosen. I have no idea what % of that 77% are true believers, but I would bet it is not “half” of them (some seem to think this parable teaches half are true believers). I don’t think so!

Thank you B & E, and other good posts, I will need to study this more. Dr, Fruchtenbaum’s book, The Footsteps of the Messiah taught me that Israel is married to Jehovah. Christ awaits marriage to His church, and that includes all Israelis who believe HaMasiach is Yeshua. I would suggest all who survive that Terrible Day are of the Christ’s bride, but need to study further. However, those churches who manipulate His Word for profit, those bring about false conversions, and think they are rich (or own what is valuable, but it is not His Spirit or power of love). B & E makes a compelling point about the Laodecian attitude. They who think they act in good conscious without living as light in this dark age, may enjoy a relationship with religion, but it is merely a cave they run to in effort to hide the love of the world. Though our lives may run parallel, when the Holy Spirit rules, the fruit of His Light shines for our Savior’s glory. I am uncomfortable at times with folks who notice some special kindness about me, and I stop to recall His presence is seen, it isn’t me. His Word is all truth, and of certainty: He is the Messiah.

Thanks very much for your comments. I am a fan of the writings of Dr. Fruchtenbaum (in fact his book on the Song of Solomon is by far the best and most accurate commentary I have ever seen on that very hard to understand book). However, I do have disagreements with him when it comes to his interpretation of end-time prophecy. Israel is the bride inasmuch as they are a harlot (as clearly shown in the typology of the book of Hosea). But in the New Testamet, the bride of Christ, is The Church. And we are a “chaste virgin”, not a harlot. Ultimately, all of redeemed Israel and the Church will be united in Christ (at His Second Coming), but during the Day of The Lord/70th week the Church (which of course will include Messianic Jews who are converted before the Rapture) will be in Heaven in our chamber, while unebelieving Israel will be tried and refined by God’s judgment and the Antichrist regime, with the remnant coming to salvation. God bless.

Thank you B&E, I bought myself Dr. Fruchtenbaum’s Songs of Solomon, but have been reading his new nook on The Sabbath, so anxiously seek time for the Song of Solomon. If you have The Footsteps of the Messiah, you’ll find he agrees that due to harlotry, Israel is not the Church, the chaste virgin.

I think the parable of the virgins has more to do with the coming of Christ, and the spiritual darkness of the world right before his coming.

Here is a helpful explanation: —————————————————————— “There was a game back, in this time, when the groom would try to sneak into the wedding unnoticed, and if he got there, and no one caught him, everyone had to give him a gift. So the virgins would keep vigilant watch to spot him, so he couldn’t sneak-in. And they lit-him-up, when he approached so all could see him.

Now, the oil in their lamps represents their spirit, and the flame of the lamp, is the light of the Spirit, that also lights the way for others. So the wise, pure virgins kept enough light to show the way of the groom, and light-him-up for all the others in the dark to see Him. And they kept only enough oil to fill their own lamps. This is analogy for you filling your soul with enough light to show you the way, and keep your spiritual house filled with light, so no darkness can take its hold with-in you. Your journey is your own, and though your light may shine for a moment on another’s path, they still need a lamp and oil, of their own, to carry with them, once you walk away.

But the foolish virgins slept, and they had no idea of what to do, as their spirits turned dark. Ignorance to the things of the Spirit blinded them, and they had failed in their one, most important task. To carry the light, and show the Groom to the world.

So, in a sense, the wise women were saying, “We only have what we need to be saved, ourselves. But go learn for yourself what you need to be saved”

Beautiful Gabriel. The other night I dreamt of being with a group, maybe coworkers, and I sensed the Holy Spirit as we enjoyed each others company and got through a mundane day, filled with His presence. I woke up, wrote it down, and went back to bed. Next I dreamt of the same setting, but His Presence wasn’t included. It was simply mundane. Folks were doing the same activities, having conversations — but the contrast was sharp, no light of His involvement! His delighted and welcomed presence IS full of light in my everyday world. Also, it was a good reminder to seek Him to fill me. The enjoyment of His Presence was tangible, the light was a blessing to all, and He was pleased. The part that concerns me is how things seemed normal without the light of His sweet love, much how I’d imagine the days before the flood and Noah alone with his family escaped.

Does this mean my parents wont be safe? My parents are catholics but they go to church every sunday help the church and pray in the name of god all of us are firm believers in god and love him dearly im a 14 year old .But to me god is some i trust and love i believe in strongly because of my family and the wonderful things he done for us.

Hi EliCrz – I cannot speak to the individual salvation of someone I do not know. But the doctrine of Roman Catholicism is based on many unbiblical doctrines, for example, works-based salvation. The 7 sacraments are not required for salvation, but the Catholic church teaches that they are. The Catholic church teaches that a place called purgatory exists and your sins can be “burned off” or “purged there.” There is no such place in the Bible and Scripture teaches “it is appointed unto men once to die, and then judgment.” The same goes for the Pope, nuns, monks, confessional, absolution, Mary being worshiped, etc. All these things have no place in the Bible. Yet they are taught by the Catholic church. At some point, if you are studying the Bible and truly believing it, it should become obvious that your church is not in line with Scripture. For more information on the unbiblical doctrines of the Roman Catholic church, see here.

The key to being a real Christians is to believe the Gospel as it is told in the Bible. That is the only way to salvation – and it is based on faith in Jesus Christ alone. Nothing else. Please see this link to read the Gospel. I also encourage you to watch the video that is on the page. Make sure that is the basis of your faith and not any actions or rituals. Many people are being deceived into believing “other Gospels” and will suffer for it if they do not repent and believe the true Gospel. If you have more questions please feel free to contact me on here or email at contact@beginningandend.com God bless.

A lot of this is wishful thinking on the part of the so called church. The thief on the cross didn’t belong to any church, In the parable, the rumble that is heard at midnight is the rumble that we are hearing today in the form of wars and rumors of wars, the waves roaring, tension throughout the world, the persecution of Jesus, and the things that Jesus said would be happening when his return is near. Religion is an invention of men. Which religion will be practiced in heaven? The churches are deceived in thinking that they will be taken up, not so, Do you see any churches standing up for Jesus? No u don’t What you do see is PHD MORONS waiting for the next check and people in the pew who go to church to hear ” make me feel good sermons.

13 In him you also, when you “heard” the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and “believed” in him, were “sealed” with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee4 of our iinheritance until we acquire possession of it,to the praise of his glory.

3 crosses with Jesus in the middle and the two other crosses are Jesus yes Jesus no

Yes went to Paradise No went to Sheol, Hades, Hell

Luke 16:26

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Both wait for Judgment

No will argue they were good enough to be in Heaven before God, and will lose

Yes will have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ

and he will say one thing to God, He (or She) is mine! Judgement is over!

[Hello BAE. Interesting stuff. Here’s something I collided with on the surprising web.]

PRETRIB RAPTURE STEALTH !

Many evangelicals believe that Christ will “rapture” them to heaven years before the second coming and (most importantly) well BEFORE Antichrist and his “tribulation.” But Acts 2:34, 35 reveal that Jesus is at the Father’s right hand in heaven until He leaves to destroy His earthly foes at the second coming. And Acts 3:21 says that Jesus “must” stay in heaven with the Father “until the times of restitution of all things” which includes, says Scofield, “the restoration of the theocracy under David’s Son” which obviously can’t begin before or during Antichrist’s reign. (“The Rapture Question,” by the long time No. 1 pretrib authority John Walvoord, didn’t dare to even list, in its scripture index, the above verses! They were also too hot for John Darby – the so-called “father of dispensationalism” – to list in the scripture index in his “Letters”!) Paul explains the “times and the seasons” (I Thess. 5:1) of the catching up (I Thess. 4:17) as the “day of the Lord” (5:2) which FOLLOWS the posttrib sun/moon darkening (Matt. 24:29; Acts 2:20) WHEN “sudden destruction” (5:3) of the wicked occurs! The “rest” for “all them that believe” is also tied to such destruction in II Thess. 1:6-10! (If the wicked are destroyed before or during the trib, who’d be left alive to serve the Antichrist?) Paul also ties the change-into-immortality “rapture” (I Cor. 15:52) to the end of trib “death” (15:54). (Will death be ended before or during the trib? Of course not! And vs. 54 is also tied to Isa. 25:8 which Scofield views as Israel’s posttrib resurrection!) It’s amazing that the Olivet Discourse contains the “great commission” for the church but not even a hint of a pretrib rapture for the church! Many don’t know that before 1830 all Christians had always viewed I Thess. 4’s “catching up” as an integral part of the final second coming to earth. In 1830 this “rapture” was stretched forward and turned into an idolized separate coming of Christ. To further strengthen their novel view, which evangelical scholars overwhelmingly rejected throughout the 1800s, pretrib teachers in the early 1900s began to stretch forward the “day of the Lord” (what Darby and Scofield never dared to do) and hook it up with their already-stretched-forward “rapture.” Many leading evangelical scholars still weren’t convinced of pretrib, so pretrib teachers then began teaching that the “falling away” of II Thess. 2:3 is really a pretrib rapture (the same as saying that the “rapture” in 2:3 must happen before the “rapture” [“gathering”] in 2:1 can happen – the height of desperation!). Google “Walvoord Melts Ice” for more on this. Other Google articles on the 183-year-old pretrib rapture view include “X-Raying Margaret,” “Margaret Macdonald’s Rapture Chart,” “Pretrib Rapture’s Missing Lines,” “Edward Irving is Unnerving,” “The Unoriginal John Darby,” “Catholics Did NOT Invent the Rapture,” “The Real Manuel Lacunza,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers),” “Wily Jeffrey,” “The Rapture Index (Mad Theology),” “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Roots of (Warlike) Christian Zionism,” “Scholars Weigh My Research,” “Pretrib Hypocrisy,” “Appendix F: Thou Shalt Not Steal,” “Pretrib Rapture Secrecy,” “Deceiving and Being Deceived,” “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty,” “Famous Rapture Watchers,” and “Morgan Edwards’ Rapture View” – most by the author of the bestselling book “The Rapture Plot” (the most accurate and documented book on pretrib rapture history which is obtainable by calling 800.643.4645).

Your article is not even close to hitting the mark of good bible scholarship. First of all, Matthew 24 deals with JEWS in the TRIBULATION. The church wasn’t even formed at this point, and none of the people in the entire chapter are Christians. They are Jews. Matthew 24 warns against “travelling on the sabbath day”. Why would that affect a CHRISTIAN? We don’t have a sabbath day, our Sabbath is a PERSON – Jesus. Please study your bible before claiming to be a teacher of anything….

We certainly do have a Sabbath! And that is why Yashua said in Matthew, that he had NOT COME TO DESTROY THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS! (caps only for emphasis)……..

So if Yashua was talking of end times………Then he was talking to us!..And the question we should ask is: Who is going to be in Jerusalem at that time? And if it is on a Sabbath, then how will the Jews and some Gentiles get the hell out when no one works on that day? We also have to understand that the times of the Gentiles will stop and the Almighty Yahovah will direct his attention back to Israel. Because the Root is Jacob (Israel) and if God didn’t save the root, then he can’t save the shoots that grow from the root!

Those who are definitely not saved are the ones who don’t keep the commandments of God…….The man of lawlessness is the anti-Christ……………He is without the Sabbath. .The ones who keep the law and the Sabbath are the only ones to be saved!

Yashua came to fulfill the whole law………The physical law, and the spiritual law!

Thanks for your comments. There is a Sabbath for born again Christians and it is every day of the week. The Sabbath, like circumcisions were signs of the Old Covenant. And that covenant expired at the crucifixion of Christ. We have an article that discuss the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant in Christ and I would love to hear your thoughts on it if you have time to read it:

Just what is your interpretation of the 4rth Commandment ? Is it not the “only Commandment we are told to “REMEMBER” many times throughout the Bible and by Jesus own words ? The Old laws passed,were fulfilled,completed when Jesus died on the cross,however, “all” of Gods commandments were “affirmed” before Jesus died and then rose on the Sabbath.Jesus is the Lamb of God and when he died the Blood of the Lamb was sprinkled on the Mercy seat.Here is the proof- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyxYSme52t4

I can’t find book, chapter and verse where it is written that the Sabbath is everyday of the week, or that the , laws, rules and decrees were abolished at the cross. Please show me scripture where it states that. I here many Christians say that, but no one can back it up with scripture. But Messiah at any time could have said it, but he did not. On the contrary he said things like this:

Matthew 5:17-20

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

(Heaven & Earth has not passed yet, and all has not been fulfilled)

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Here Jesus is saying that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the teachers, church leaders, or we shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. What is our righteousness? How do we enter into the kingdom of heaven?

According to Deu 6:24-25, it’s our obedience to Gods law, his rules, his statutes, his regulations. Not ours.

Deu 6:24-25: 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God,x so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.

25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.

And who in the flesh represented God’s law. Yehsua (Jesus) So saying that the law is abolished is like saying that Jesus is too! You can’t obey Yeshua (Jesus) without obeying the law. Messiah as Paul puts it ,is the culmination of the Law. He is the highest point, the peak of the Law, he is the climax of it.

Now, I take the words of God and Messiah as truth and that is the truth. Now, If Paul or any other writer spoke something other then what Messiah Yeshua was saying here. He/They can not be trusted. But I know that Paul was taught of Yeshua and taught and spoke the truth. Problem is that some Christians still try to understand the Bible from a Roman church or western mindset and not from the Original Hebraic teachings.

In V:19, There is no getting around what is being said here. And Yeshua never said at any time that when He died upon the cross that the commandments would be done away with. The above statement by Yeshua would make no sense then . People would be like, but didn’t we here you say that you didn’t come to destroy the law?

That would make him like us. Wishy-Washy….He could not be trusted. We would have no hope if he didn’t mean what he said. Why would he say to his followers, “if you love me keep my commandments”(JN 14:15), and then when he is crucified tell us that the law is done away with. Silly right! Remember Messiah is the highest point of the Law.

Yeshua can be trusted because he showed us the way. He obeyed, listened to the Word of God and that’s why our lives were saved. That is why he was a fragrant aroma, an excepted sacrifice unto God on Passover as the Lamb Of God who took away the sins of the world. Amen.

Many other references to this fact. but yet 99% of Christians hold firm this day as if God commanded it.

The Sabbath in the words of the Messiah was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. In terms of understanding this. We did not give God the Sabbath that we can change it to any day that we choose. No God gave it to us as a gift and made it separate then all other days of the week. Six days we are to labor, but the 7th day, Sabbath is to the LORD. A day for us to rest and to reflect on what God created for us those six days. (Ex. 20:11), also, on the Sabbath, we are to remember that we were slaves in the world and that the Lord our God brought us out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord our God has commanded us to observe the Sabbath day.” (Taken from Deu, 5:12-15) And to give thanks and reflect on his grace towards us in sending Messiah. There are many different Sabbaths in the Bible. However, God said that we are to keep one day Holy(Separate) from all other days of the week. And it’s not the 1st day of the week or all days of the week. It’s the 7th day, which we know as Saturday. You can’t quote sayings from scripture like, Isn’t it written that God’s word(Jesus) is the same yesterday, today and forever.(Heb 13:8) Or how about this verse too: (Psalm 89:34) I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips. Gods word has not changed. It’s sad that certain people have led many people astray by saying it has. And they follow foolish doctrine that is not scriptural. But roman-church tradition

Matthew 5. 17.Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Yashua upheld the law and the Sabbaths to fulfil the law and to preach the law………..The Sabbath belongs to Yahovah God the Father……….And on the 7th day he rested!

If you have a Sabbath every day of the week then how can you work…………….Then you are against the laws of God!!

Please don’t change things to make them sound idiotic………….There is a very good reason why we should keep the Sabbath on the 7th day, and as Yashua said: It will not pass-away!

I’m curious. Are you going to really try to tell us that you keep the Mosaic Law in its entirety? Remember, if you offend in just one part of it you are guilty of breaking the entire Law. You are correct that Jesus came to fulfil the Law and the reason that He did was because as sinners by nature, we were totally unable to keep the Law. That’s why Jesus’ righteousness was imputed to anyone who will accept Him as Lord and Saviour. The apostle Paul explained this in saying that the Law was our “schoolmaster” to point us toward Christ, to show us how inadequate our own attempts at self righteousness truly are. Sorry, I didn’t have time to find the Scriptural references for my biblical quotes this morning. Also, in the first few verses of I Cor. 16, Paul instructs the Corinthian church to collect the offerings “on the first day of the week” – that’s Sunday! The Sabbath is Saturday. Was the apostle Paul promoting ” the mark of the beast” by instructing a Sunday gathering for that early church congregation?

Your first question: Of course NOT………….This was done away with………..But Paul who went to work with many to bring in the Gentiles, who were an unlawful lot………..Had a hell of a time with their contentions………..Some wanted to be baptized to him and not the Christ!

But if you read in Matthew 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall EXCEED the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The Sabbath is then still in place on a Saturday……….The 7th day of the week, but Paul had to organised the congregation to except the Christ first unto themselves and become believers……………The animal sacrifices had finished and the temple destroyed at the coming of the Romans…………Like Yashua had said it would.

The Christ then became the door to the temple……………Did Paul straight away cease from eating clean food? No because the fulfilled law was a circumcision of the heart and exceeded the old law!

The Christ was then the law…………And had fulfilled it by his death, and no one can go through that door unless they understand the commandments of that law!

The Gentiles were brought in and all then fell asleep when Constantine changed the times and seasons of the Sabbaths………..But unless we understand those feasts we can’t get the full understanding of the times we are now living in.

The man on the cross, asked to be in paradise when the time came for Christ to bring in the Kingdom…………..But only in the resurrection will that man be found…………. Paul on the other hand was bringing in those that become the bride of Christ…………

The root comes first, and soon the time of the Gentiles will cease and the Jews will be awoken to bring back the feasts…………..Some are doing that now! The creators Calendar will never cease to exist and only the Jews know the exact times of the ancient Barley harvest………. If we don’t look at the old testament, then we don’t understand the full meaning of the law in place now!

The new moon reports coming from Jerusalem are on the Internet.

We all have so much to study and learn in these coming days………..So I appreciate this time with you.

Ok, Valerie, it looks like we are maybe closer to being on the same page than I was originally led to believe from your previous post :^) I do agree that Israel will indeed be brought back to the Lord and that this process has already taken some beginning steps. As you mention, there is a new drive in Israel today to recall the old Jewish traditions, such as observing new moons, proper animal sacrifice techniques, plans for building a new temple, ect. I believe scripture teaches that the antichrist will make a false treaty with the nation of Israel during the early part of the seven year tribulation but he will breach his treaty with them half way through the seven years by going into their temple and procaliming himself as Diety (you have to consider the book of Daniel along with Revelation to get a better understanding of the Great Tribulation). Some will point out that Antiochous Ephiphanes fulfilled this prophecy around 168 BC when he sacrificed a pig on the temple alter in Jerusalem and I would agree that the event of the pig sacrifice did PARTIALLY fulfil it. However, as with much Old Testament prophecy, there is often application of a particular prophecy to PLURAL or even mutiple future events and I certainly believe this prophecy falls into that catergory.

Ok Dave we are to SHARPEN EACH OTHER TO FIND THE TRUTH…………Lets do that now!

Yashua (Jesus) said we are to EXCEED the law of Moses………..HOW? This article is the best I can find for you to show where and how most so called Christians are getting it all wrong………And that is why some hated Paul even though he spoke of Moses and the prophets…….Remember Paul was taught by the highest of Pharisee teachers………He knew the law like the back of his hand…….And that is why Jesus BLINDED HIM and then used him like the clappers…………….He was worth his weight in gold for his diligence in then understanding the TWO LAWS……. The Physical Law of God for the Israelites and the spiritual Law of the Christ. for the Gentiles.

The problem we now have with the Gentiles is that we have been deceived by the Wolves that have come in to blind those who really aren’t that bothered in understanding what Grace really is all about…………Read over Jude after the article and be warned that grace will NOT save anyone without the law of the Christ.

We must understand that Yahovah has only ever dealt with one nation……..Israel!

Paul points out that we Gentiles should live so as to provoke Jews to jealousy and save some of them. He then twice uses the grafted in wild olive illustration, which comes with a stern warning. This leads him into the long term promise “all Israel will be saved” and as that “God’s free gifts and his calling are irrevocable.”

“You, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root”. He also points out that we do not support the root: it supports us. Cutting off the Jews is not a good idea .http://www.wildolive.co.uk/olive.htm

Where in the word of God does it say: Those who bless Abraham (the promised seed) will be blessed…Those who curse Abraham will be cursed!?

I hope you will study both articles and that I have helped you understand how God will turn the Jews back to himself………Yashua was a Jew, Paul was a Jew…..Jerusalem is EDEN THE PERFECT LAW OF GOD where rivers of righteousness run to cleanse all nations.back to GOD.

Valerie, thanks for the links. Definitely some food for thought. I’ve often wondered about the true meaning of the text of Romans 9-11 – olive tree, being grafted in and whatnot. Does shed some new light on this text for me.

Matthew 24 is prophecy about the future of the Church. It was given to those who would become the foundation of the Church. If we use your reasoning, none of the Old Testament can be about Jesus because He hadn’t been born yet.

The main problem with this teaching can be corrected by realizing the important, distinctive difference between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven is an earthly kingdom that God had planned from the beginning to be ruled by heaven. Throughout the history of the earth this kingdom has been usurped by Satan since Adam’s sin. God eventually choose a small portion of land – Israel for his kingdom. Israel refused – except for King David who will eventually rule the earth with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of heaven during the Millennium . Jesus came offering this kingdom first to the Jews, whose leaders refused the offer and crucified him. The KOH is a visible kingdom, that will become evident during the Millennium.

After Jesus died, at some point the apostles quit teaching about the KOH and offered the KOG to Gentiles too. Thus kingdom of God is the kingdom we as believers belong to . You must be born again to get into it. It is within you Luke17:21. It is God ruling the hearts of men.

Matthew 24 & 25 is a KOH parable which means he is talking about the Jews who are still waiting for their Messiah– waiting through the night (the tribulation), as others have noted. The beginning of the parable of Matt 25 states THEN…. when is the then? After the tribulation and the second coming of Christ. The virgins can not be the bride of Christ otherwise Christ would have 11 wives. How does one get into the KOH? Mt 25:34-35 states it is based on good works. It’s too late for faith in Christ. Rather the question will be did he feed the homeless Jews, did he visit them in prison, or hungry and fleeing from Antichrist? The only Gentiles who will qualify to go into the Millennium are those who earned that right through the way they treated Jews during the Tribulation. Notice the book of Matthew does not contain the good news of salvation by faith. It is a book written to the Jews and for the Jews.

To try to apply this parable to Christians is to not understand the vital difference between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God. If there is no difference why is the KOH only used in the book of Matthew? Why are the parallel parables in the other gospels have distinctive traits? It’s well worth the study to help all of us correctly divide the word of truth.

Thanks for your comment. I would like to respond to a few of your points:

“The main problem with this teaching can be corrected by realizing the important, distinctive difference between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven is an earthly kingdom that God had planned from the beginning to be ruled by heaven. Throughout the history of the earth this kingdom has been usurped by Satan since Adam’s sin. God eventually choose a small portion of land – Israel for his kingdom. Israel refused – except for King David who will eventually rule the earth with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of heaven during the Millennium”

Where is the Scripture that says this? You are making a number of assertions but not providing any Scripture to back this up.

“Matthew 24 & 25 is a KOH parable which means he is talking about the Jews who are still waiting for their Messiah– waiting through the night (the tribulation), as others have noted. .”

Again, where is the Scripture that says this? Where are we told that night time is equivalent to the “tribulation”? Or that the bride is the Jews? I don’t find Scriptural support for these claims. Yet we do see the reference to Christ as the bridegroom and the church as the bride many times in Scripture.

I guess if we are going to rightly divide Scripture, we have to start including some Scripture in the discussion so we have something to work with. If you can provide some passages that you are basing your post on, I would be glad to read them. God bless.

You are absolutely correct that I made assertions and did not back it up with a specific verse(s). This is not due to there not being plenty. Actually way too many to do it justice here. IT takes lots of study to make the distinction between the KOH and the KOG. My goal was to peak other’s interest in exploring this concept for themselves. An excellent study is found in the book “Eight Kingdoms” by Michael Pearl. This book is carried by No Greater Joy ministries. I encourage anyone who’s curious to spend the $13.

That said, let me encourage to just look at a few verses on the KOH that spell out some of the distinctions compared to the KOG– which is the kingdom to which those who are believers belong.

In the KOH : ( all ref are in Matt– since Matt is the only one who talks of the KOH)

* Some will be called great and some least ( 5:19) * Righteousness is demanded as a precondition (5:20) * Children of the KOH will be cast out into outer darkness (8:11) * KOH message was for Jews only (10:5) * Is subject to violent overthrow ( 11:12) * Will have tares in it (13:24) * Is like a treasure in a field that must be purchased ( 13:44) * Is like a net filled with fish both good and bad (13:47) * Keys to it given to Peter and the disciples ( 16:19) * Some are greater in it.( 18:1) * One must forgive or lose his forgiveness (18:21)

Most of these verses would be very scary if applied to the KOG. None of the above verses are true of the KOG. Just this, is plenty of evidence that they are very different, but there are many more. Again, I encourage you to take this first step and learn what the Word says itself about each of these kingdoms. Trying to apply KOH verses to the KOG (the Church) leads to so much doctrinal error.

For example your reply here you changed the what Scripture said because you are assuming the KOH is the same as the KOG. Notice how you changed the parable of the 10 virgins into the parable of the 10 brides of Christ.

Your quote:

“Again, where is the Scripture that says this? Where are we told that night time is equivalent to the “tribulation”? Or that the bride is the Jews? I don’t find Scriptural support for these claims. Yet we do see the reference to Christ as the bridegroom and the church as the bride many times in Scripture.”

I did not say the bride is the Jews, nor does the Word of God in this parable. You base your whole argument that “some Christians will miss the rapture” by re-interpreting the word virgins to be equal to bride. IF you are correct, then Jesus is going to have 10 or 11 brides– or if we go by your logic He will lose half of them so will be left with only 5 brides. To confirm the role of the virgins in comparison to the bride look at Ps 45:6-14. The virgins represent Jews and Gentiles who respond to the gospel of the kingdom during the Tribulation. They are not the bride but will be allowed into the KOH if they wait. (the KOH is the earthly reign of Christ during the millenium). They will experience of period of waiting for the bridegroom, who will delay His coming. Some will not be prepared to wait. (Luke 12:45). Those who wait will be allowed to enter the KOH and attend the wedding of Christ to the Church. The virgins were not part of the bride they were attendees at the wedding.

How do we know the night represents the tribulation? Because in Rev 19:1 it states “after these things” which refers back to Rev 18 in which all the events of the tribulation and the final event of God’s wrath (the destruction of Babylon) is completed. The wedding of Christ to the Church follows in Rev 19:7 — after the tribulation in chapter 18 . The virgin had to wait through the night before the bridegroom came with his bride to the wedding feast so drawing the parallel to the parable the night and the tribulation are equal. Jesus based this parable on the custom of His day, in which the groom came for his bride (the rapture) (Rev 4&5), then the couple spent up to a week (7 days= 7 years of tribulation) in his father’s house in the bridal chamber (raptured saints in heaven) and at the end of that week, the guests were allowed to come and join the bride and groom at the wedding feast. Again these virgins were there to light the way when the groom comes with his bride. He is not coming to get the bride here.

Though you made a valiant attempt, you cannot make this parable fit the KOG and be faithful to the text. I hope everyone will take the challenge to study these two kingdoms and let the Word of God define each of them for you by comparing the likenesses and differences between them.

“You are absolutely correct that I made assertions and did not back it up with a specific verse(s). This is not due to there not being plenty. Actually way too many to do it justice here. IT takes lots of study to make the distinction between the KOH and the KOG. My goal was to peak other’s interest in exploring this concept for themselves. An excellent study is found in the book “Eight Kingdoms” by Michael Pearl. This book is carried by No Greater Joy ministries. I encourage anyone who’s curious to spend the $13.”

This type of statement raises many red flags. If there are “way too many” verses that state your original description of the Kingdom of Heaven, why are you referring readers to a book written by a man? Why would you not just list the verses and explain them? If you are taking the time to teach what you believe to be a Bilical principle for others to learn from, then you should be able to very clearly explain it with the Bible alone. This is the burden we bear as believers in the Internet Age. Once we assert “thus saith The Lord” we should be able to confirm it with Scripture and exposition.

“* Some will be called great and some least ( 5:19) * Righteousness is demanded as a precondition (5:20) * Children of the KOH will be cast out into outer darkness (8:11) * KOH message was for Jews only (10:5) * Is subject to violent overthrow ( 11:12) * Will have tares in it (13:24) * Is like a treasure in a field that must be purchased ( 13:44) * Is like a net filled with fish both good and bad (13:47) * Keys to it given to Peter and the disciples ( 16:19) * Some are greater in it.( 18:1) * One must forgive or lose his forgiveness (18:21)”

None of these verses you cite confirm your original description of the Kingdom of Heaven from your first comment which was this:

“The kingdom of heaven is an earthly kingdom that God had planned from the beginning to be ruled by heaven. Throughout the history of the earth this kingdom has been usurped by Satan since Adam’s sin. God eventually choose a small portion of land – Israel for his kingdom. Israel refused – except for King David who will eventually rule the earth with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of heaven during the Millennium .”

None of these verse mention anything that support the description you provided.

“I did not say the bride is the Jews, nor does the Word of God in this parable. You base your whole argument that “some Christians will miss the rapture” by re-interpreting the word virgins to be equal to bride. IF you are correct, then Jesus is going to have 10 or 11 brides– or if we go by your logic He will lose half of them so will be left with only 5 brides. “

Yet in the parable this is what we see:

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Here the bridegroom is arriving in the middle of the night and goes into the marital chamber with the 5 virgins. Does this mean literally that Jesus has 5 wives? No. It is a parable. Jesus is using the example metaphorically. Nowhere am I familiar with virgins who are not marrying the bridegroom, waiting up for him all night to greet him outside as he arrives. That is not a part of a Hebrew wedding. And why would it even matter if they were virgins if they are no the ones being married? Why can’t married women wait outside for the groom too? It doesn’t make sense and it does not have Biblical support.

“To confirm the role of the virgins in comparison to the bride look at Ps 45:6-14. The virgins represent Jews and Gentiles who respond to the gospel of the kingdom during the Tribulation. They are not the bride but will be allowed into the KOH if they wait. (the KOH is the earthly reign of Christ during the millenium). They will experience of period of waiting for the bridegroom, who will delay His coming. Some will not be prepared to wait. (Luke 12:45). Those who wait will be allowed to enter the KOH and attend the wedding of Christ to the Church. The virgins were not part of the bride they were attendees at the wedding.”

There are 2 reasons I disagree with this:

1) Here is the passage you are basing this idea on:

6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. 9 Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. 10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; 11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. 12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. 13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. 14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

This passage says nothing about Jews and Gentiles in the Great tribulation. I don’t follow your point here.

2) Life in the Great Tribulation – The idea that Christians or Jews in the Great tribulation will have to “wait” or be “prepared to wait” contradicts Scripture. Life in the Great Tribulation will be one of total satanic control over society. The Antichrist will require the Mark of the Beast under penalty of death. The image of the Beast must be worshiped under penalty of death. The Antichrist is going to attack and wage war against all Christians and succeed. Revelation 13 is clear that he will “prevail” in killing Christians. And his authority is global. So the notion that there would be Christians in the days of the Antichrist that are sort of hanging out, taking it easy, getting drunk, etc., does not jive with Scripture at all. It seems recently, in different articles a number of readers have taken this perspective and I am not entirely sure why. With all due respect, it is just not what the Bible says. The life of anyone who proclaims the name of Christ or rejects the Antichrist’s mark will be one of harsh brutality. Every day will be one in which your physical life is in danger. A war by the most powerful political ruler on the planet at that time is being waged against you. You will be completely cut off from all normal aspects of society without the mark. And the global society at large will worship this man as a god, so there is a definite likelihood of civilians turning you in should they see you. So your point that Christians need to “prepare” and “wait” as if they can just relax and cruise through the Day of The Lord does not reflect what the reality will be. In your view, what wrong thing could a Christian do to not enter the Kingdom of Heaven? They have liteally put their life on the line every single day just by refusing the Mark. So what mistake could they later make to disqualify them??

“How do we know the night represents the tribulation? Because in Rev 19:1 it states “after these things” which refers back to Rev 18 in which all the events of the tribulation and the final event of God’s wrath (the destruction of Babylon) is completed. The wedding of Christ to the Church follows in Rev 19:7 — after the tribulation in chapter 18 . The virgin had to wait through the night before the bridegroom came with his bride to the wedding feast so drawing the parallel to the parable the night and the tribulation are equal.”

I honestly do not understand this point.

“Jesus based this parable on the custom of His day, in which the groom came for his bride (the rapture) (Rev 4&5), then the couple spent up to a week (7 days= 7 years of tribulation) in his father’s house in the bridal chamber (raptured saints in heaven) and at the end of that week, the guests were allowed to come and join the bride and groom at the wedding feast. Again these virgins were there to light the way when the groom comes with his bride. He is not coming to get the bride here.”

Actually in the Jewish wedding, the groom first arrives at an unexpected hour, like a thief in the night. In this parable, the bridegroom arrives at an unexpected hour in the middle of the night. The Feast is on he FIRST day and lasts for seven days. We see this clearly in Judges 14 when Samson gets married:

And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 0 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. 11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. 2 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

I am just going by Scripture. I see nowhere in Scripture where we are told that the virgins light the way for the bridegroom. Nor do I see where we are told that the virgins are Jews and Gentiles in the tribulation.

We do see the Church called a virgin: “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2.

So again, I have to respectfully disagree with you. If you have more Scripture to provide with an explanation of how it connects to your assertions, I am happy to read them. But at this point, I do not see the support. God bless. -B&E

The 10 Virgins are most certainly the Jewish nation or (Israel at this time) and the Gentiles at this time……….All slumber and eventually fall sleep to then be woken at Midnight! They are woken up at the last hour……….Not much time to go and buy anything from the Lord………But the Jews who don’t know the Lord Yashua ask of him, and their eyes are opened at very last hour before the new day begins. These 5 Virgins who have kept themselves clean from Idol worship have to suffer the Tribulation that is coming to the world…………While the woman is taken into the wilderness and fed while this is going on in Jerusalem……

The 5 books of the First Testament and the the five books of the new testament represent those who understand the laws of God…….One is a physical law of priests of God, and the other is a spiritual law.of the heart and mind to gather kings into the Kingdom…………..The Torah is the law of both & without understanding this, then there is no salvation!

If we all bless Abraham’s seed (Israel as a nation ) then we will be blessed, If we curse Israel then we will be cursed……………So this proves that the end will come through the land of Israel and Eden: Jerusalem.

I don’t think there is any reason he chose 10 and 5, except that we have ten fingers. Five on the right hand (sheep) and five on the left hand (goats). The parable of the Sheep and Goats follows the Virgins. I do think that we must not look into the numbers, because we will follow irrelevant rabbit trails.

The parable of the Ten Virgins has little to do with the apostate church as noted in this article. We are all apostate in many ways. We are all sinners. The parable is about our relationship with Jesus through the love that we show to others. See: http://www.lampofthebody.com/38-the-parable-of-the-ten-virgins.html. The oil is our good deeds done by God through us. The light is his love. The lamp is what we focus on. At least that’s the way I understand it. The parable is about making a relationship with Christ through our love shown to others.

Honestly, I don’t think in that term: “Born again.” Jesus explains that we are born of the flesh and we are born of the Spirit. We enter into relationship with Jesus through his Holy Spirit. He explains that we are forgiven, yet he also explains that we can blaspheme the Holy Spirit of which there is no forgiveness. I have come to understand this to mean that if we don’t allow the Spirit to work through us, then we cannot know him. When we see him, he will then say, “I know you not.” Not that he doesn’t know our identity, but that we didn’t knew him in the deepest agape love–friendship.

All that said, it is a great mystery of whom is written in the book of life, in whom his word (which is Jesus) grows and produces fruit in good soil, and in whom his word fails to take root. Being “born again” doesn’t tell the deeper story of being in relationship with Jesus. We can be born of the spirit, yet we can do nothing. It is a mystery. We are told that he will never forsake us. We are also told that we must work out our salvation in fear and trembling. It is a paradox that we are not able to understand.

The 5 books of the first Testament are the written law that Moses was commissioned to write…….Most of the Jewish nation will NOT look into anything but these books and the prophets as they are taught…….But also the Pharisees brought in laws that are NOT in the Torah which some Jews NOW refuse to abide by……..These then become virgins because thy want to stick with the absolute laws of God that Moses wrote.

The other 5 are those of Israel and the Gentiles who believed in the Son of God in the flesh and in the spirit to be the Messiah and who are understanding the Revelations of this time but also they know of the laws and all the Sabbaths………..These ones have more oil but fall asleep through the Church age of Christendom when the Sabbath and seasons are changed by Constantine…………..They all fall asleep and their lamps go out right up to the last hour. Only the 5 that know the Lord can trim their lamps to make the light perfect to find their way to the door……….They understand the laws from all the books that Yashua said to stick with……….These have more oil.

The Jews who don’t KNOW the messiah are left out of the fest to face the full force of the Anti-Christ as he stops the dedication and prays to God………….This will be the wake-up call for them to run like hell out of Jerusalem……….None who know the Lord will be deceived into thinking the Prince to come is the promised King.

Notice the lawless one is the wicked who comes without the understanding of the Torah and is gathered together for the great wine-press……….Many who have no understanding of the laws of God will find themselves grinding their teeth to what is happening in the world at that time.

Understanding God’s Sabbaths will give you more oil for future events. And to understand why he placed the Sabbaths there for us is to know his calendar……….The new moon starts a new month………Then the Barley harvest starts a new year………….And that is why only God knows the day and the hour!

The number five often refers to God’s undeserved grace. There are many stories where you can interpret the number five can be this way. Certainly, in the parable of the Ten Virgins, the five foolish virgins didn’t accept God’s grace, the five wise virgins did. Both had the same offer of grace, however. Consider also the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Once in Hades, the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to save his five brothers. They still had the opportunity to accept God’s grace.

Also, consider David and Goliath. David rejected Saul’s (man’s) armor, and slew Goliath with five smooth stones. The stones were smooth because they were in the water for a long time. Water is often a symbol for God. God said David was a man after his own heart. By God’s grace, and against all odds, David killed Goliath.

The number ten often refers to service \ works. There are Ten Commandments (serving the Lord). Joseph’s ten brothers went to Egypt to work for food. Joseph is a type of Christ. His brothers a type of mankind. In Luke 19, we see a parable very similar to the Ten Virgins. In this case, a ruler “goes away” for an undetermined amount of time and puts his ten servants in charge of his wealth. The servants do not know when he is coming back. Again, some were faithful, and some weren’t.

This article is correct in its interpretation of the parable. Parables are supposed to be simple stories with a single and obvious truth. To argue minute details as “where was the bride” attempts to parse the story beyond its purpose. The bridemaids represent mankind.

I find it substantial that only 50 percent of those who earnestly await the Lord’s return are actually excepted. Today we have man’s doctrine of salvation, grace, and eschatology to pamper our ideals. Jesus never taught a follow after me prayer. He was always after the heart of the matter. Man would have given the rich young ruler a quick believe in Jesus message instead of Jesus’ hard core message in Luke 18:18. Jesus wasn’t seeker friendly, He is simply the author of salvation. He seems to know what He is talking about. He always gave a message that required total 100 % surrender. Those in the persecuted world know the cost of salvation. They know that by making the decision it will cost them, possibly event their life. When they weigh in on their decision, total surrender is much higher than in the West where the invitation is often accompanied with social acceptance rather than cost. In fact man teaches a follow-after-me prayer to except Jesus. A huge contrast to the message that Jesus presented… the pearl of great price, the treasure in the field, the rich young ruler. In fact if you actually weigh in those who have received the “Author of Salvation’s” message, but rather man’s message of salvation, a extremely low percentage. Average that with the rest of the world and there you have it… around 50% of true conversion.

The choice of salvation is why we are on Earth. It’s the only reason. This time on earth is only a quick season that will soon pass and Isaiah records that it’s memory will fade away. This reason is necessary to prove to God (or ourselves) who you choose to serve. With that decision comes the eternal assignment 1 Thess. 5:9,10… salvation and forever living with Him. He desires all to come to repentance and salvation.

Those who’s decision is fickle when tested by tribulation and persecution will immediately stumble, as Jesus promises… Mark 4:17. So many fall into this category. When persecution hit China in the last century those who were not prepared for tribulation and persecution quickly apostatized (turned away from their faith). The pastors and teachers who survived are remorseful that they had ever taught the pretrib doctrine, but rather wished that they had prepared them for the promised tribulation John 16:33. Today much of the Chinese church considers the pretrib doctrine a heresy. On the other hand the U.S. is prime for history to repeat itself.

Paul teaches that the great apostasy (falling away) must happen first prior to us being gathered together to Him… 2 Thess. 2:1-3. It is sad to consider that Jesus promises the nature of those who will apostatize are those who are unprepared for tribulation. Few in the churches in the U.S. have a backbone to firmly stand on the Rock Christ Jesus when the storm comes. The coming storm… which is coming very soon, is coming to test the resolve of those who think their choice can be fickle and that they’ll just be raptured out of tribulation. Read the words of Jesus… this is not His heart.

God uses the storm of tribulation to prove this decision. 50 percent of those who are earnestly watching for the return of Christ won’t make it to the end. Surely it won’t take as long as it is taking…. surely the return was much earlier on the timeline… My original decision to choose Christ didn’t provide enough oil. The cost for such a lengthy wait wasn’t weighed, so the extra oil wasn’t purchased. Surely someone else could give us some of theirs…

After the 6th bowl judgement Jesus declares in Rev. 16:15, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Guess what, he is still coming for the wise virgins who are watching. Do you have the oil to make the distance?

B&C – It all begins with a response to the question of who do you think Jesus is, just as He asked Peter that question. That decision begins the life long journey of learning to give God your whole life. Jesus says “if you remain in me, I will remain in you.” Nobody is saying that your conversion begins and ENDS with the sinner’s prayer.

You say “The coming storm… which is coming very soon, is coming to test the resolve of those who think their choice can be fickle and that they’ll just be raptured out of tribulation.”

Jesus says “Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

We all face personal trials and tribulations, but that’s not what Jesus is talking about here. He is specifically referring to the Great Tribulation, aka, the Coming Day of Wrath, the Day of the Lord, etc. So you’re saying that those alive in that day will be forced to endure some exceptional testing beyond what we all normally face to test our faith? That would mean that a special group of Christians will face special testing that no other Christian had to face. Then why did Christ die for us? Escaping from the Tribulation in the last seven years is what Paul was referring to as the Blessed Hope.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10: For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

I also cannot agree with your conclusion of a 50% salvation rate based on the numbers used in this story. He uses fives and tens in other stories as well, but the study of numerology is beyond the scope of my reply. How would you square that against Jesus’ statement that “narrow is the gate and FEW will enter in…”? That implies less than 50% to me.

As for Rev 16:15, that is His Second Coming, which is distinctly different from the “return in the clouds” rapture.

Doug, Your comment of “narrow is the gate and FEW will enter in…” has absolutely nothing to do with those who are earnestly waiting an watching for His return…. no wonder it doesn’t jive with you. The lost are obviously not the 5 foolish virgins who are awaiting His return. Perhaps you could reread my comment.

That’s great that you quote vs. 10 with 1 Thess. 5:9,10. Most pretribbers leave it out. It gives a clear picture of what we are actually assigned or appointed to… salvation and forever living with Him. It’s eternal, not temporal. Rev. 14:10,11 also tells us what exactly God’s wrath is…torment with fire and brimestone… forever and ever. There again eternal.

Concerning all that is coming upon the earth, i.e. Great tribulation: Jesus tells us in Luke 21:36, to pray ALWAYS that we may be counted WORTHY to escape all that is coming on the earth… Most pretribbers believe escape equals rapture as well as the Rev. 3:10 verse. According to how you view this verse really defines who you are and how you conduct your life and prayers;

Consider the pretrib view: We know that those who are saved will be raptured. So a pretribber needs to be praying ALWAYS that they can be counted WORTHY to be Raptured…Right? As if your WORTHINESS (i.e. works) has anything to do with salvation. As for the Praying ALWAYS… how often is it necessary to get saved? How’s your praying in this matter going? Of course, for the pretrib believer, the ALWAYS and Worthiness is not what is capitalized upon, but the escaping. As long as you can focus upon the escaping part of the verse, the rest can be ignored. Obviously the verse is not about the rapture at all, and neither is Rev. 3:10.

However, if you understand that we are assigned to tribulation (John 16:33) and persecution (2 Tim. 3:12) then when confronted with the end time events that are unfolding, we have a constant reminder to be “Praying ALWAYS that we may be counted worthy…” The white linens that the bride wears is the righteous acts of the saints. These acts are not accomplished in heaven, but the bride makes herself ready on earth. 1 Thess. 3:12,13 Paul tells us how the bride is to make herself ready ON EARTH, to be presented to the Father, when Christ comes with all the saints (who have gone on before) to come and get her. Dan. 12:10 also tells us how she is made white. Being made white and purified is through tribulation (Rom. 5:3) and persecution.

The pretrib rapture doctrine is 100% conjecture. Consider the time of “Jacob’s trouble” the foundation of the pretrib doctrine… an attempt to separate the church from Israel. Jacob’s trouble, mentioned ONCE in scripture Dan. 30:7 is in a two chapter prophesy… Dan. 30,31. This event is the cause of Israel being scattered… (30:10,11). Israel is then gathered from the ends of the earth… Jer. 31:8. Isaiah tells us that once Israel is gathered from the ends of the earth she will never be scattered again. Israel was scattered in 70 AD at around 60% and fully by 162 AD where Jerusalem was without ANY Jew. This is the worse in history, and prophesy records that it will never be to that extent again… Joel 3, Zech. 14. The scattering of Jacob happened between 70 AD until 1948 AD when Israel become a nation once again. She will NEVER be scattered again. The time of “Jacob’s trouble” is NOT the tribulation.

Jesus answered the disciples question in Matt. 24:3 concerning 70 AD and also His return. Jesus also addressed the “worse event ever” concerning Jerusalem (Jacob/Israel) in vs. 21. The disciples were asking about the temple being decimated as Jesus prophesied in vs. 1,2. The abomination of desolation is one in the same. History proves that the “worse ever event” for Jacob/Jerusalem happened in 70 AD.

Daniel 9:24-27 is about the work of the cross. Get a clue concerning vs. 27. The daily sacrifices have ended for almost 2000 yrs. Titus decimated the temple and in true Roman form declared his godhood. Daniel is NOT the first prophet to use the term “week” as a period of time. Enoch used it many times and never did it refer to a 7 year period! YOUR BOX is way too SMALL!

You have no idea what you are talking about ! Stop the Heresy before you draw the wrath of God upon yourself ! You do NOT “comprehend” the verses you read ! 1) The Abomination of Desolation occurs AFTER the rebuilding of the Temple AFTER the Peace agreement (modern times possibly not 2000 yrs ago) 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judæa flee to the mountains: 15 and let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

the parable only mentioned 10 virgins which could be the bride’s maid. The Church is the Bride and she could be among everyone or with the Groom already in the marriage supper so she’s not the ones left behind. If the Scriptures refer the Church as the Bride, then the ones left behind (5 foolish virgins) could no way be the Bride/Church.

Gabriel: I think the parable of the virgins has more to do with the coming of Christ, and the spiritual darkness of the world right before his coming.

Here is a helpful explanation: —————————————————————— “There was a game back, in this time, when the groom would try to sneak into the wedding unnoticed, and if he got there, and no one caught him, everyone had to give him a gift. So the virgins would keep vigilant watch to spot him, so he couldn’t sneak-in. And they lit-him-up, when he approached so all could see him.

Now, the oil in their lamps represents their spirit, and the flame of the lamp, is the light of the Spirit, that also lights the way for others. So the wise, pure virgins kept enough light to show the way of the groom, and light-him-up for all the others in the dark to see Him. And they kept only enough oil to fill their own lamps. This is analogy for you filling your soul with enough light to show you the way, and keep your spiritual house filled with light, so no darkness can take its hold with-in you. Your journey is your own, and though your light may shine for a moment on another’s path, they still need a lamp and oil, of their own, to carry with them, once you walk away.

But the foolish virgins slept, and they had no idea of what to do, as their spirits turned dark. Ignorance to the things of the Spirit blinded them, and they had failed in their one, most important task. To carry the light, and show the Groom to the world.

So, in a sense, the wise women were saying, “We only have what we need to be saved, ourselves. But go learn for yourself what you need to be saved”

– soulblindministry.com 12/6/11

Please make sure that your Spiritual house is in order. Don’t be a foolish virgin. Do you have Gods Sign? Hosea 4:6 (King James Version) 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Put some oil in your lamp, http://www.sabbathtruth.com/faq/advanced-topics/the-sabbath-and-the-mark-of-the-beast.aspx

Pick and choose which verses you want to apply to you concerning the Word of God and the rapture. I pick pretrib therefore I don’t have to experience tribulation (sarcasm intended). Tribulation… well that’s just for the Jews… how ridiculous. Matt. 24 has this problem throughout it concerning dispensationalism. No one knows the day or the hour… that’s the rapture… Right? Wrong, unless you consider rapture and second coming one in the same! Matt. 24:29-36… it’s clearly what pretribber would refer to as the second coming. If no one knows the day or the hour of the second coming then you cannot have a rapture exactly 7 years prior that tells you when it’s going to happen! That’s the beauty of the dispensational teaching, you can just apply the verses that you want to concerning yourself, and give the unwanted ones to the Jews like a good Nazi. Ooh.. ouch, okay that is truly offensive, but step back and take a look at what’s happening with the attempt to separate Israel from the church concerning the end-time doctrine. How absurd to dump what you don’t want onto the Jews.

Concerning the placement of the rapture and the 10 virgins… I don’t guess, conjure it, or assume it’s placement. The Word tells us where it is Rev. 16:15, right after the 6th bowl judgment:

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Obviously, Jesus is STILL coming like a thief for those who are watching and keeping there garments white. Many virgins who were watching in the parable (Matt. 25) didn’t make it to the end. They didn’t have the oil to make the distance… totally unprepared. They thought it would have taken as long as it did, and that the bridegroom would have got there earlier. Unfortunately that sounds just like my pretrib friends. Surely, Jesus doesn’t put the rapture that far along in the timeline! Jesus tells us that those who are unprepared for tribulation and persecution will immediately stumble… Mark 4:17. Paul speaks of this stumbling in 2 Thess. 2:3 when he states that the falling away or apostasy must take place first prior to Christ gathering us together with Him. Such a HUGE danger the pretrib doctrine presents to lukewarm christians.

I just found this site, while searching for a comment about the Parable of the Ten Virgins. I would like one opinion or more, from other members of The Church.

I’ve been interested in and loved this parable for a long time. And since I’m waiting and watching, I tried to figure out myself more of the meanings of the few places in the Bible where the coming of the Lord is mentioned.

I use the term “coming” here in connection with the Rapture, because as far as I see there are 2 different events: His Coming (he comes to take His bride – the rapture) and His Showing (after the tribulation he will show Himself to all people – Jude 14-15).

Now, one aspect of this parable is still a mystery to me. On a quick reading, you might go ahead and say like everybody, the meaning of the oil is the Holy Spirit. But if you think about it, the parable says:

“Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out”

Now, how can a saved believer give “some” of the Holy Spirit to somebody else who has less? It’s not exactly like you can give “some” Holy Spirit to somebody who “ran out” of it, like you give a gallon of gasoline to somebody who ran out of it and is stranded on the side of the road.

The Holy Spirit is only for the Lord to give, and for us only to receive.

I would rather say the oil in this parable represents preparedness. But preparedness is a rather general definition here. The actual exact meaning still eludes me.

I think, before any comments regarding this parable, we should figure out the exact meaning of the oil in this parable, otherwise any comment is futile.

Another thing that should be discussed is what we are told in 1 Corintians 15:51-52

========================================= 1 Corinthians 15

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. =========================================

So there will be a trumpet sounding, a few times, and at the last trumpet we shall all be changed. And thinking from the point of view of the parable of the ten virgins, seems to me that this is exactly what this parable tries to say: there will be some who, when the trumpet will start sounding the first time, will. realize what is happening and will try to get prepared.

The thief on the cross needed probably less than a minute to get saved, while he said a few words to the Lord. That means, if one is about to find out the rapture will take place in a short time, if the go the right way they can be saved in no time. But seems to me that the 5 virgins who ran out of oil actually never had any, and they will try to get some in a sneaky unfair way, which will not work. Because if you really are looking for the Lord, you will find Him in no time at all.

How many of us are actually aware of this? That there will be a sound of trumpet, and at the last one the actual rapture will happen?

I think it’s pretty likely that not everyone will hear those trumpets. They will only sound for the chosen ones.

So anyway, anyone cares to share some idea about what exactly the oil in this parable means?

“These signs in the heavens do not repeat themselves unless you actually believe the Earth is millions and millions of years old.” BLASPHEMY God can and will do as he pleases by his laws not mans. Virgin birth in the heavens 2017- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5dyEnZFu0w Disregard this presenters views on pre- trib rapture as it is “unbiblical”

Interesting video, and alignment of planets, but NONE are clothed in the sun fulfilling Rev. 12:1. Venus, who is the woman, gets clothed in the sun erratically.. It’s called a transit and that can only happen if Venus and Earth are on the same nodal line. This does not happen in 2017. You will notice that in the presentation Venus is off into Leo and not even near Virgo. Venus is the woman… Virgo is the Virgin. Scripture has no problem differentiating between the two. In Rev. 12:1 it’s the woman that is clothed in the sun. This transit was made in 2012, It was high in the Northern hemisphere. The next time will be in 105 years. God has NO problem reserving a particular sign for a particular event, and not allowing that sign to repeat itself. This presentation shows the sun being clothed in Virgo(or over her shoulder…little off), not the woman clothed in the sun.

Oh come on !! You stopped reading too soon!!!!! Rev `12:5 Who is this referring to ? Some other divine birth mother ? Do we have Two 2 Messiahs ? Some other God to be “caught up to” ? Comprehension should be your first area of improvement. Read carefully and completely so you can understand the Scripture you are trying to “decode”. P.S. It is the Pagans who have Divinities associated with the “stars” (planets).

Here is another interesting video that portrays intelligent symbolism the ties the world together through Scripture and Signs. I think you will enjoy it. It blew my mind ! David Flynn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21peeqr-Ejw

What is your proof Heretic! I am Glorifying Gods word and trying to help others understand the Bible Scriptures.When I see a blatant mistake that could send one “down” the wrong path I try to correct it and promote “comprehension” of Gods message. Job 31:35

New International Version (NIV)

35 (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing. Psalm 71:13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

This is what you do not want to admit to yourselves. (Pre-tribbers) Speaking about the faithful followers of Christ who had been slain

Revelation 6:9-12

King James Version (KJV)

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Jesus died once and he will return “only” once (On the Day of the Lord) period.There will be Tribulations for every inhabitant of the Earth whether they be believers or not. The only way for Tribulations to “passover” you is to prepare yourself as the Bride of Christ and God will not let the troubles effect you.(Just like the lambs blood over the door way protected Gods Faithful followers )(The evil passed over them) Jesus is the Lamb of Passover. He died and rose during Passover. Matthew 10:21-23 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Hi I have read your excellent account of the parable of Ten Virgins. I am writing an article for new Christians (new converts) on this parable. I am using the pictures of the ten vitgins from your article. My question is this: Whom I should give credit” the citation, should I say By: Beginning and End Ministries? Thank you! God bless.

I have just recently discovered your site. I’d like to thank you for being a truthful message for Christ. You have educated me about the hidden Occult messages and symbols found in current pop music. While I was well aware of it’s lustful and evil messages, I was not aware of it’s blatant ties to the Occult.

If I may I’d like to share my views concerning the rapture. I’ve read your interpretation of the “ten virgin” parables and you make a good argument. I have also read apposing views and they’ve made a good argument. Based on this, I think we all can agree that there is no concrete conclusion to the exact meaning of this parable. Both arguments have validity. It’s true interpretation is debatable.

In regards to bible prophecy and scripture interpretation, I always make it a rule to take a literal view. If a literal or clear, indisputable view cannot be derived then I do not claim my interpretation (if I have a clear one) as indisputable. (I believe that you also subscribe to this theory, I am just using this to come to my point.)

My point is this- There are many disputable scriptures which can be interpreted to say a certain thing in regards to the timing of the rapture. I will use clear cut, indisputable scripture to substantiate my belief of when it will occur:

In this passage, Paul clearly states, in describing the rapture of believers, that the resurrection of the dead in Christ will happen first right BEFORE the rapture of living believers-

“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) NIV

In this next passage, we clearly see that the first resurrection of the saints includes those who died at the hands of the anti-Christ:

” I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.” (Revelation 20:4-5) NIV

These two passages prove that the rapture will not happen until the resurrection of those dead in Christ. They also prove that this resurrection happens after the anti-Christ comes to power, since this resurrection includes those who died at his hands.

What does this mean? That all Christians will experience life on earth during the reign of the anti-Christ (not to be confused with the judgments of God found in Revelation). There will be no rapture until after the FIRST resurrection, which happens after the rule of the anti-Christ.

The only argument that one can make (that I have experienced) to dispute my theory is that there are many resurrections, that the resurrection described in Rev 20:4-5 is somehow not the “first”. This argument is bogus for this reason- Of course it is not the “first”. Jesus is the first resurrection. Also, there was a resurrection of Jews after the resurrection of Jesus described in the Matthew. And maybe there were individual resurrections since that have happened that no one knows about (for the sake of argument). God is certainly able.

So then, we must ask ourselves, why does the bible in Rev 20:4-5 describe that resurrection as the “first?” Since it is not the literal first resurrection (Jesus was) and the bible cannot lie, we know that it is talking about the first resurrection of the whole body of Christ dead in the Lord, the very resurrection that Paul describes in 1 Thess 4:15-17 that happens right before the rapture of the church.

Even if somebody believes in “multiple resurrections”, more than the two mentioned in the book of Revelation, this does not explain why the resurrection described in Rev 20:4-5 is referred to as the “first.” This is because that argument has no merit. Clearly “first” refers to the body of Christ dead in the Lord, while the second resurrection is the remaining people who died in sin, brought to life to face the sentence for their crimes on earth, which is the lake of fire.

The good news is debate about bible prophecy is not the most important thing. The most important thing is to believe that Jesus is the son of God, that he died for us and that only through faith in him can one receive eternal life with God. I can clearly see that you (B&E) and many others who post on this site have this belief. If we adhere to this belief, we will be saved no matter WHAT happens in the future. One thing is for sure- we will soon find out!

Thanks again B&E for your website. It has been a blessing to me in the short time that I have been exposed to it.

Joe

P.S. Do you have a email mailing list? If so, I would very much like to sign up

Excellant article confirming what I believe God has been showing me over the past year. I would love to point out a few more details to support your position. I read an article somewhere awhile back that made an excellent point in Rev about the need to “wash their robes.” I wish I could remember where I read it so as to give credit but, I am afraid I do not remember.

Rev 7:13 “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

The person pointed out that those who “came out of great tribulation” could be the left behind christians who had been saved (therefore had been given their spiritual robe of righteousness on earth), however were left behind and had to go through the tribulation in order to wash their robes (for some reason they were dirty) perhaps in order to be accounted “worthy?” I believe these could be the foolish virgins in the parable.

On this note, perhaps, the reason they were left behind and needed to wash their robes could best be explained in Rev 3:14 where it addresses the church of Laodiceceans or the “lukewarm christians.”

The verse states in 3:18; “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire.” Could this be another reference to the foolish virgins who were occupied with the world and worldly things and therefor had to be chastened by the literal testing by fire of the tribulation first? Keep reading….

Rev 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that thy shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.”

Notice the reference to WHITE raiment and being clothed (in righteousness) is the true definition of rich. The verse also mentions eye salve because they were spiritually blind and needed to SEE; as in see the truth (that the world/idols have nothing to offer and Jesus is the ONLY way)? I also find it interesting that the church of Philadelphia (who I believe is the true bride of Christ) is referred to in Ch 3: 7, which are the verses right BEFORE the church of Laodicea as if it is a true contrast of the wise verses the foolish virgins.

One last bride clue perhaps is in Rev 21:2

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” So, we see a blatant reference to the NEW Jerusalem being compared to a beautiful BRIDE. In my opinion, this would be after the Tribulation. So the world now gets to see the bride of Jesus which again I believe is the raptured church of Philadelphia, coming back to earth to rule and reign with her husband and King; Jesus!

Anyway, just some interesting observations and things to think about. I really enjoyed your article!

The parable is about the Second Coming, not about the Rapture. Matthew 25:1 is a continuation of Matthew 24. Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun moon and stars will be darkened and the heavenly bodies will be shaken and the sign of the Son of Man will appear, and He will send His angel to gather the elect. This is referring to the Second Coming. But of the day and hour, no man knows…for just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man…up until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood took them all away. This is still the Second Coming. Therefore watch, for you do not know what day the Lord will come…the Son of Man will come on a day you do not expect Him…Still the Second Coming. At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins…Still the Second Coming.

Noah entered the Ark seven days before the floodwaters came, but the Door remained open until the day the rain fell. The Door is open until the Wedding on the Day of Atonement, when we stand naked before our Husband. The Wedding Feast follows with the seven day Feast of Taberncles, not during Daniel’s 70th week.

Dear B and E I found your writing very interesting. It is good of your emphasis on Scripture quotes in responding to the comments that others are making. John 1:1 states that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God”. In V 14 it tells us that the Word was made flesh. In Rev 19:13 we see Him (Christ) coming on a white horse with His name as “The Word of God”. Refer also to Rev 19:15 where out of His mouth goeth forth a sharp sword to smite the nations (ref to Eph 6:17 on the sword of the spirit).

We christians are “built upon the foundation of the apostles (New Testament) and prophets (Old Testament) Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone.” (Eph 2:20). So it is unfortunate how some ‘believers’ want to entangle themselves with the law and hence cannot understand the shadows of the OT and how Christ has redeemed us from the law (Col 2:14-23, Gal 2:15-21 and 3:2-29). Now concerning the parable of the ten virgins, it is important to understand the following facts: 1. This is a parable and Jesus spoke to His disciples in parables as was His custom. He usually gave intepretation to His disciples (Matt 13:11-15). This matter given to the disciples in private (Matt 24:3) after they had asked him three questions, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? So Jesus is answering these three crucial questions. A parable like a dream or vision requires that it can only be intepreted by those to whom God has revealed the secret (Dan 2:28). 2. What is the symbol of the virgin and what does it mean? A virgin is a woman who has not been touched by a man. Israel in the OT were considered as God’s wife(as in Hosea). Christ is coming to take His bride who should be chaste (2 Cor 11:2-4). Scripture must be intepreted by scripture. 3. Why did the ten virgins take their lamps and go forth to meet the bridegroom? It is because there was an invitation – a message had gone forth to invite them to the marriage. Which message is this by which the women (church) has been invited? Remember that even in the time of Noah (Matt 24:37-39) there was a message – “get into the ark for your safety and salvation”. Did the rest of the world listen? Not at all till the flood came and took them away. Same problem today! 4. What is the oil? The Holy Spirit is symbolised by oil. God is Spirit and to receive Him is to receive of His Spirit. Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. That is why a true born again believer receives a new heart and a new spirit. He receives the life of God and that life does not keep in sin. 5. Five virgins were wise and five were foolish. It is true some believers will go in the tribulation while others go in the rapture – the translation – as part of the first resurrection. Those that remain and don’t go in the rapture are seen in Rev 7:9-17.

Perhaps for now let me conclude by saying that at the end of the 69th week as prophesied by the prophet Daniel the rapture of the gentile bride takes place (Rom 11:25) after the full number of Gentiles has come in and then Christ the Messaiah goes back to reveal Himself to Israel and that marks the start of the 70th week as shown to Daniel. Remember Joseph was the type of Christ: -He was hated of his brethren and loved of his father (Gen 37:4-5) and Matt 17:5. -He was spiritual as he dreamed dreams and intepreted dreams or visions; Jesus was spiritual and he saw visions etc -He was sold by Judah (Gen 37:26,27) and Jesus was sold by Judas Iscariot (Matt 26:15-28) -Pharaoh gave Joseph all the authority Gen 41:38-44 -He started his program in Egypt at 30 years Gen 41:46 and Lk 3:23 -Joseph got a gentile wife or bride just as Christ marries a Gentile bride Gen 41:50

The time Joseph reveals himself to his brethren the Hebrews he is alone and the bride is in his palace (Gen 45:1,2). Israel rejected Christ in order for the Gentiles to come in. Christ reveals Himself as Messiah to the Israel (Zech 12:10-14; 13:6) and the bride is already gone in His palace. In the sixth seal of Rev 7:4-8 we see the 144,000 sealed from the 12 tribes of Israel. These are the same chosen we see whom Zechariah the prophet saw in Zech 12.

So the parable of the ten virgins is a parable of the Kingdom showing us that among the chosen and called, some (wise virgins) who will be alive at the last trumpet call (1 Thess 4:15-17) shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air while the others shall remain when Christ goes to reveal Himself to Israel to save the 144,000. But the foolish virgins shall seal their testimony with their own blood as the Antichrist shall slaughter them for refusing to receive the mark of the beast.

Finally let me hear your comments on the mark of the beast. What is it?

May God continue to bless you and illuminate scriptures to with the obvious zeal you have for the Word.

B and E Perhaps another point of interest in this parable has to do with the ten women as virgins. This signifies that these end time churches – women – comprise churches who have not been “touched” by adulterous doctrines of men (Matt 15:9).

The church is supposed to be married to one Husband, Christ (2 Cor 11:2). A married woman living right only receives seed from one man, the husband. The church – christians – truly married to Christ receive the Seed of the Word (Luke 8:11) from one Man Jesus Christ who is the Word of God. However the apostate church (Rev 17) teaches another gospel (Gal 1:6-9) a perversion of the true Gospel which Christ left us (Jer 3:20). It should be understood that the true gospel is according to what the apostles taught in the book of Acts and the letters of Paul. [When the Holy Ghost fell upon the 120 believers who were in the upper room whatever they preached was the true original Gospel – the true Seed of the Word]. That is why Paul could speak with confidence that

“Even if we or an angel from heaven come to preach another gospel other than the one we preached unto you…let him be accursed…”

Another gospel means a wrong seed from a wrong person who is not the husband of the church.

The ten virgins all received the correct call – the true call. However some were wise while others were foolish. So these do not comprise the apostate churches. These have the Truth -the Word – but not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That is why they cannot go in the rapture. They according to Rev 22:10-11 will remain the way they are when the Holy Spirit goes to reveal Christ to Israel. But when they are killed by the Antichrist during the great tribulation they will be resurrected at the end of the last week of Daniel and they find themselves in the Millenium (1,000 years reign). They are part of the first resurrection.

These ten virgins do not represent a group of Believers, some of whom are ready and some of whom are not. You said yourself that the five foolish virgins represent those who call themselves Christians but are not. It appears these ten virgins represent the visible church on earth—part of which is made up of those who truly belong to Jesus Christ and part of which is made up of those who have a form of religion but are not redeemed by Jesus’ blood. When the Bridegroom comes for them, those who truly belong to Him will be taken and those who simply have the appearance of believers will be left behind. Not all scripture consists of a riddle wrapped in an enigma hidden in a mystery. Some of Jesus’ analogies are pretty clearly explained and straightforward. Sometimes it really is what it appears to be.

Awesome article B/E….clap clap. I just found this website and I must say, I’m loving it VERY much, especially the eschatology section. As for this article, I love how you supported your position with scriptures from both the first and second testaments. Very well played.

Anyone who only sees Israel in Matthew 24 and 25 needs to seriously re-read the second testament again, in particular Romans 9-11. Because of Israel’s rejection of their messiah, they were blinded and the church was grafted in. Rev 2 and 3 was meant for the church as well. The church, being grafted in, will be lifted out so that God can deal exclusively with the root, Israel, one more time.

Finally, they will see and accept their messiah, the Lord Yeshua. The true believers have a promise to be delivered before the Day of the Lord begins and God unleashes his wrath upon the earth. The five wise virgins represent the true church caught up, not Israel. Israel will not be caught up to meet the Lord when he comes back shouting with a trumpet blast. Israel will be here on earth greeting him as he returns to planet earth.

I have read these debates and can clearly see that there are viewpoints ranging from those that believe in the rapture and those that don’t. Then also rapture occurs mid-tribulation and rapture occurs pre-tribulation. This obviously adds fuel to interpreting Matthew 25. And then obviously the question of what part of the signs is for the Jews and what is for the Christians as this was a Jewish audience.

One part I don’t see here adequately explained is why Jesus used “VIRGINS”. Virgins are pure, without spot and unblemished. The only way one becomes a virgin is through the grace of God, no matter how good or bad we are. Virgins are “Brides” in the making. Also some have suggested that these cannot be the brides as Jesus does not marry 10 brides is a bit like marrying your cousin. We know the bride of Christ is the Church. The church consists of millions upon millions of people. Collectively, we are referred to as the bride. Why, would 10 virgins then be a stumbling block? A bride, in God’s perfect environment, is a virgin and only becomes a bride on her wedding day. In 2 Corinthians verse 11, we find the following conclusive statement: “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. So we see a black and white statement saying Christians are presented as a virgin to Christ so we can be married and be with Him forever. Also typically in the first century Jewish wedding, the bridegroom came for the bride to-be and then took her back to his home.

Another clear point of departure is that ALL these virgins were sleeping. Not some – All! At a midnight hour (Surprise hour) was an announcement that the Lord was coming. The reason why there was apathy is implied in the scriptures “The bridegroom was a long time in his coming” … Take note – ALL these virgins were aware of the time, but only half of them got their house in order. So will be the coming of Jesus.

The oil in the lamps is a bit more tricky and here I readily accept others inputs as cannot be dogmatic. I do not believe the buying of oil, refers to the Holy Spirit. Rather the oil refers to worldly matters that forces us to live. Like building our houses, buying cars, investing in our future. In other words, 5 were inspecting themselves and getting ready for the Lord, while the other 5 went about as business as usual, investing in material goods – Why? Cause they were virgins, believers without blemish – They expected to be taken. They just were not excited or focused on the Lord’s return.

Interestingly, there is one of my favourite scriptures found in Luke 21:34-36, which is also the Olivet discourse as discussed in Matthew 24. Which reads: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

There are actually 2 action verbs and commandments from Christ in what he was saying. He was telling ALL believers 1) Watch (verse 36) – Watch what? Well watch for the signs of the times and 2) PRAY – Pray for what? – Pray that we are worthy to escape all the things that he mentioned and to stand before him! He is addressing this to believers, not borderliners or question markers? What makes these believers worthy to escape – what must they do? Watch and pray!

Besides from this parable I do not believer in the theory that ALL Christians are raptured. If all Christians are part of the rapture based on being a follower of Christ, then why does Luke’s statement suggest otherwise? Also, only one church had the promise to escape the hour of trial, which we know is the tribulation as it never has happened before; found in Revelation 3:10.

This also places a large dent in those who believe that Christ only comes back after the tribulation for His believers. (In other words, those that believe the rapture is fiction). There are promises that there are groups that will not experience all these events. A door is always an opportunity. As Jesus comes to earth with all His Saints at the end of the Tribulation, then what door could this be? It makes no sense to assign this parable to the end of the tribulation. Also if we look back at Matthew 24, we see at his return He gathers his elect from HEAVEN! Jude also tells us that He comes back with a multitude of saints. How did all these people get into heaven? At seal 5, multitudes of Christians are slaughtered for their beliefs, which we can conclude occurs in the tribulation. At the end of the tribulation according to Old Testament prophecies, man is like rare gold scattered across the earth. How and why would this open door matter then? It is like waiting for the world to be in chaos, without light and without hope, then saying: “For those believers remaining (which we know by studying Revelation are few and far between), Christ is coming” – We all know that Jesus returns to earth “After the tribulation” – What is the surprise then?

I think the wise virgins are the ones who trust fully on Christ for the salvation. Foolish ones are the lukewarm Christians the ones that base it on their works and and mix it up cuz you gotta be either hot or cold you can’t be lukewarm.because they didn’t trust fully in Christ and only partially they would be the foolish virgins

all ten virgins are Christians, they all fell asleep because they are dead and waiting on the resurrection ,the call that goes out to say the bridegroom is coming is the 7 th trumpet, when they rise the wise can light there lamps because they put the Lords words to practice and did there good works, they 5 others were lazy servants . By the time they went out to buy oil , that is doing the good works to the poor and needy of this world it was to late. Does not the Lord say why do you call me Lord but don’t do what I say. We are saved by grace alone but once you accept that grace , you are a servant to the Lord and must serve. Jesus served the poor and no servant is greater than his master. God bless everyone working for the Lord, the harvest is plenty but the workers are few.

I am a saved and born again Christian. I am not perfect and neither is anyone else or will anyone ever be on this earth. We should all strive to be Christ-like. I confess the name of Jesus to those around me and I strive to live by HIS commandments. We must not let the views of those like the Pope or other false prophets allow us to temper their ideals and beliefs. The only fact is No one can be saved unless they know JESUS as their personal savior. I, for one, trust only in GOD, JESUS, and the HOLY SPIRIT.

Israel is still the bride of Messiah, the chosen set apart people of Yah. That hasnt changed nor will it ever change because Yahveh already decreed it to be so. Rome change many things and needed to replace Israel with their man made church in order to placate the mostly ignorant masses in their mostly pagan kingdom thus a lot of syncretism took place. There will be no rapture till all is fulfilled, basically all of Mat 24. When it happens ALL Israel, both branches, the cultivated ones with Torah or Judah and the wild ones Ephraim that like the prodigal need to return to their roots and stop feeding on pig’s food and fill their lamps with the fine oil of the word.

Both the Wise and the foolish virgins will not be raptured. Because all of them slumbered and slept. They missed the Rapture. They are expected to watch and pray. Now there will be a period of tribulation after the rapture, the wise virgins are the ones who had the light during the tribulation and will stand for Christ and become martyrs. And in the mid of the 7 year tribulation (Mid Night – although the time of rapture is unknown, here it says mid night, so this is not the Rapture, instead it represents the middle of a 7 Year tribulations which is 3.5 years) Jesus would come the 3rd time to collect Martyrs who are represented here as the wise virgins. But the foolish will be left and will not enter heaven at all.

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All 10 have salvation, but 5, who ran out of oil are not invited to be a bride, nor invited to the wedding. They believe, but did not have an intimate relationship with Jesus. Salvation, Hear the Word, Believe the Word, and are Sealed by the Holy Ghost.